Molded pulp slipper



y 9, 1956 H. s. CRANE MOLDED PULP SLIPPER Filed Aug. 4, 1953.

TAT 4 4 T444 United States Patent MOLDED PULP SLIPPER Harold S. Crane, Palmer, Mass., assignor, by mesne assiguments, to The Diamond Match Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 4, 1953, Serial No. 372,251

4 Claims. (Cl. 36-9) The present invention relates to an improved slipper or sandal similar to the so called Pullman slipper fabricated of molded pulp fibers. The blanks from which the slippers are formed are successfully molded at a mass production rate on existing paper pulp molding equipment, and a large number of the blanks may be nested together in an open, outspread condition, in which they are taken from a drying form, so as to be shipped inexpensively and stored compactly. These blanks may be assembled at the location of use.

Recent years have seen the introduction of a slipper or sandal of sheet crepe paper construction for use in locker rooms and the like to keep the feet of the user clean and to safeguard against possible infection. The present invention deals with a related article, but one which may be shipped and stored as an incomplete molded pulp blank, shaped in a special outline from which it is later manipulated to a condition for use. This simply involves the flexure of the pre-shaped blank to appropriate slipper contour, in which it is then held by suitable simple means, such as an adhesive strip.

It is thus a general object of the invention to provide an improved locker room slipper or sandal of the sort referred to above, and, more particularly, to provide a simple and compact, paper pulp blank for the making of such an item, in which the pulp is molded to a cross sectional outline such that the resultant blank can be successfully stripped from molding and drying dies or forms, and yet may then be readily and quickly manipulated to a true slipper or sandal outline and secured in that form. The contour of the blank is such that the completed article is a confortable one to wear. It may be discarded after use because its cost is low.

An important object of the invention, more specifically stated, is the provision of an improved article of manufacture in the form of a shaped blank of one-piece molded paper pulp construction suitable for the construction of a slipper, said blank featuring an integral heel, instep, vamp and toe formation extending longitudinally and continuously of the blank. The formation has the contour of an upwardly convex arch or ridge which is integrally joined on opposite lower sides thereof, adjacent the toe portion, by upwardly and outwardly convergent, vamp forming side wings. These are rounded gradually in an outwardly convex outline, and the free extremities of the wings are separated from one another above the vamp and toe portions of the ridge or arch, the forward edges of the wings merging downwardly and inwardly into an outwardly convex forward toe tip of the ridge. When the blank is bent for use so as to approach the free edges of the wings toward one another, the ridge tends to flatten out, particularly in the vamp and toe area thereof, and when the wings are secured in edge to edge relation to one another, as by an adhesive strip, a completed vamp is formed in which the toes of the user may be thrust. The instep and heel of the foot are comfortably supported by the rearwardly extending ridge, which, although somewhat flattened by the formation of 2,747,301 Patented May 29, 1956 "ice the blank as described, still presents a slightly convex upper surface.

The foregoing statements are indicative in a general way of the nature of the invention. Other and more specific objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understanding of the construction and use of the improved slipper and blank therefor.

A single embodiment of the invention is presented herein for purpose of illustration. It will be appreciated that the invention may be incorporated in other modified forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a simple, predeterminedly shaped molded blank of paper pulp from which the improved slipper is made, the view looking downwardly upon the continuous, upwardly arched heel, instep, vamp and toe formation of the blank;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the blank of Fig. l, contrasting the finish of the inner and outer surfaces thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation from the left of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are, respectively, views in transverse vertical section along lines corresponding to lines 44, 55 and 6-6 of Fig. 2, illustrating the progressively changing sectional configuration of the blank;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a completed slipper or sandal formed from the blank of Figs. 16 inclusive; and

Fig. 8 is a top perspective view showing a number of the blanks in a unitary and compact nested assembly for shipment or storage prior to use.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 6 of the drawings, a blank 10 from which the improved sandal of Fig. 7 is formed is molded by a conventional pulp molding machine from a watery slurry of paper pulp fibers. This blank is a one-piece unit whose parts merge integrally with one another. The parts include a rounded, longitudinally extending and upwardly convex arch or ridge formation 11 the curvature of which may be approximately uniform.

The arch or ridge formation 11 includes a heel-forming portion 12 at the extreme left which, as illustrated in Fig. 3, is of approximately semicircular outline, terminating in lower edges located somewhat below the center of curvature of said heel portion 12. Heel portion 12 merges gradually with an intermediate shank portion 13, the sectional outline of which (Fig. 4) is in a trifle milder curvature. The shank-forming portion 13 in turn merges with a more forward ball-forming portion 14, the sectional outline of which is represented in Fig. 5. The ridge formation 11 terminates forwardly at a toe portion 15 (Fig. 6) into which the curve of ball portion 14 merges gently.

Commencing at a zone adjacent the junction of shank and ball-forming portions 13, 14, a pair of outwardly convex vamp forming wings, generally designated 16, diverge upwardly from the lower extremities or forward side edges of the ridge formation 11. The contour of these wings is clearly depicted in Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6, from which it will be noted that the degree of curvature thereof is approximately uniform from their rear to their front. The wings round forwardly and inwardly from rear, somewhat concave edges 17 to forward edges 18 which merge downwardly and inwardly into a forwardly convex nose 19 of toe portion 15. The upper free edges 20 of the wings are considerably higher than, and approximately parallel to, ridge 11. They are spaced transversely from one another a substantial distance, and the formation of the ridge and wings is, in general, in an open, outwardly flared outline to enable the blank to be successfully molded on and stripped without damage from the screen of the type of equipment on which many sorts of molded pulp articles are presently produced. The

angular limitations on the configuration of such screens, to permit successful stripping, are well known to those skilled in the art.

A large number of the completed blanks It) may be snugly nested, as illustrated in Fig. 8, for shipment or storage in a very small space. It is contemplated that packages or cases of the blanks will be supplied to club house locker rooms, athletic clubs, public or private swimming pools, etc., where they will be dispensed for protection of the users feet.

A suitable conventional securing tape, such as Cellophane tape coated with a tacky pressure sensitive adhesive, is employed in completing the formation of the blank to an intended slipper outline. This tape may be supplied with the blanks, presenting printed advertising, promotional or decorative material which may be identified with the organization which dispenses the slipper.

In completing the slipper the vamp-forming wings 16 are manually shaped inwardly to bring the same toward one another in an edge abutting relationship of their respective top margins 29, the longitudinal upwardly convex ridge zone along shank and vamp portions 13, 14 flexing as a fulcrum toward a more flat outline as the wings are bent upwardly thereover. After this, the securing tape mentioned above, illustrated in Fig. 7 and designated 21, is applied over the joint, and preferably also around the opposite ends of and under the joint. So applied, the tape 21 holds vamp-forming wings 16 in a tensioned condition and under a substantial flexing stress at their integral connections to the toe portion 15 of the completed sandal. Alternatively, the vamp wings may be secured to one another in any other suitable fashion, as by overlapping their edges and the use of a staple or staples.

The molded pulp material has sufficient resistance to penetration by moisture to protect the feet of the user well against dirt, infection or dampness in normal locker room use. Should it be desired, it is also possible to impregnate the material, during or following molding, with appropriate waterproofing or germicidal preparations.

It will be noted that the exterior vamp and bottom sole surface of the slipper are of a relatively smooth, finished texture, as compared with the upper and inner surface, which has a rougher, more pebbled texture. This is due to the fact that a smoother surface is normally present where the pulp is first deposited against a shaped molding screen. The difference can be eliminated, if desired, by pressing or ironing, however, I do not contemplate this'in the present article, for the rougher inner lining surface provides a better frictional retention of the slipper on the users foot.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a flexible one-piece sheet-like form of pulp fibers of uniform thickness which is suitable for use as a sandal, comprising a relatively elongated longitudinally extending member curved in upwardly convex cross-sectional outline throughout substantially the entire length thereof from a rear heelforming portion to a forward toe-forming portion, said member having a forward vamp-forming wing integrally connected therewith which flares upwardly and outwardly at an acute outward angle to the vertical from a forward side margin of said longitudinally extending member adjacent said toe portion in a convex, outwardly rounded cross-sectional contour, said wing being adapted to be moved upwardly about it connection with said longitudinally extending member as a fulcrum and terminating in a free edge opposite its integral connection to said longitudinally extending member, said form being self-sustaining in the outlined described and the upper surface of said wing between said free edge and said integral connection with said longitudinally extending member being free of inward re-entrant overhang.

2. As an article of manufacture, a flexible, one-piece sheet-like form of pulp fibers of uniform thickness and suitable for use as a sandal, said form comprising a relatively elongated longitudinally extending member having the contour of an upwardly convex arch and having forward vamp-forming wings integrally connected therewith which flare upwardly and outwardly at an acute angle to the vertical. from oppositely disposed forward side margins of said longitudinally extending member in a convex outwardly rounded cross sectional contour, said wings each terminating in a free edge opposite the integral connection thereof with said longitudinally extending member, said form being self-sustaining in the outline described and the upper surface of each wing between said free edge and integral connection thereof being free of inward re-entrant overhang, and said wings being adapted to be moved about their connections with said longitudinally extending member into adjoining vampforrning position above the forward portion of said longitudinally extending member whereby the latter will be flattened out in the area between the same.

3. An article of manufacture characterized by a onepiece blank of pulp fibers which is of uniform thickness and which is in the form'of a slipper blank having an integral heel, shank, ball and toe formation extending longitudinally and continuously of the blank, said blank having the contour of an upwardly convex arch which has integrally joined thereto on opposite longitudinal side edges thereof adjacent the forward toe formation upwardly and outwardly diverging vamp-forming side wings which are rounded gradually in an outwardly convex outline with the free extremities of the wings separated from each other above the ball and toe formation and the forward edges of the wings merging downwardly and inwardly into an outwardly convex forward tip on the toe formation.

4. A sandal fabricated from a pre-shaped, one-piece sheet-like form of flexible pulp fibers, which form is of substantially uniform thickness and is characterized by a relatively elongated, longitudinally extending member of initially upwardly convex cross-sectional outline, said longitudinally extending member having heel and shank forming portions and terminating at its forward end in a toe-forming portion of substantial width and said longitudinally extending member having a pair of vamp-forming wings integrally joined to opposite forward margins of said toe-forming portion, said wings each being flexed upwardly and inwardly about its connections with said longitudinally extending member as a fulcrum into spaced relation with said longitudinally extending member above said toe-forming portion, and with corresponding edges of said wings in closely adjacent relation to one another, and a strip of material adhesively secured to said wings over the adjacent edges thereof whereby said toe forming portion is flattened out and said wings constitute a vamp in upwardly spaced relation to said toe-forming portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 64,277 Broadbent Apr. 30, 1867 78,384 Lowrey May 26, 1868 181,444 Hutchins Aug. 22, 1876 1,641,625 Davis Sept. 6, 1927 2,093,908 Dodge Sept. 21, 1937 2,239,206 Tietig Apr. 22, 1941 

